Hawkeye: They're Watching You

As Kate Bishop finds a new career, we review her PI peers!

Kate Bishop loves being a super hero but knows that it cannot pay the bills. Thus, with HAWKEYE #2 on January 4, she finds herself a nice side job to line her pockets: private investigator.

In a world where good guys and bad guys battle for the fate of the universe, on the regular, Bishop recognizes that the average every day person still has problems that need solving; problems that a PI might be uniquely suited to improving.

The fact that other super powered types have reached that conclusion before her can be good news for Kate. For when times get a little rough, or when she has a question about what billing software to use to stay on top of her accounts, we put together a list of other heroes turned private dicks that she can give a jingle.

Jessica JonesWhile she may have cut her teeth in the super hero game—first as Jewel, then as Knightress—Jones has always had the type of temperament a little more at home with the rough and tumble life of a PI. Alternating between run of the mill “catch my wife cheating” to the high tension “find out Captain America’s real identity” cases, Jones showed that despite self-hatred, alcohol dependence, and a general inclination away from customer service, she had private investigating in the blood.

Years later, Jones may be in a far better more stable personal place, but she has not lost her edge. Her most recent case proves that even without booze and outward turned rage, she remains one of the better frosted glass doors of the Marvel U to knock on with your problems.

ScorpionBelieve it or not, MacDonald “Mac” Gargan did not always hate Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson and make his bones in a bright green costume complete with tail weapon. For a time, Gargan walked the rainy streets of Manhattan charging 200 a day plus expenses.

He had a decent career going too, until he agreed to be the guinea pig in an experiment paid for by Jameson. It turns out an acute sense of amorality can serve you well when you make your money invading other people’s privacy for anyone who will pay you.

Spider-WomanWhile she mostly spends her time as the more active extension of Ben Urich’s investigative reporting these days and the previous years have been marked by space travel and avenging, Jessica Drew spent several years being one of the most popular PI’s in the San Francisco phone book.

Motivated by her sense of justice—not a desire for monetary reward—Drew stepped in for those most in need who might not have convinced the average private investigator to take their case. Jessica proved so dedicated to her work that even after she lost her powers for a time, she kept the agency open and taking cases until life took her east once more.

X-Factor InvestigationsFounded and headed up by Multiple Man in part to help him find his way in life, the agency boasted the likes of Wolfsbane, Siryn, Rictor, Monet, and Strong Man as operatives.

Although they took up in “Mutant Town” as their base of operations, X-Factor quickly became an international investigating force, gallivanting around the world—and eventually, through time and other dimensions—to deliver their customers the very best work they could.

Knightwing Restorations LTDAfter years in the NYPD, Misty Knight lost her arm and began to experience intense depression. On top of that, she felt constrained by the job and its rules, unable to truly help those that needed it most. So, with best friend Colleen Wing’s encouragement, she quit the force and joined her pal to create Knightwing. For Wing, who had previously had her life saved by Knight when she ended up in the crossfire of a gun battle, it felt like nothing more than returning the favor.

The duo, most often known as the Daughters of the Dragon—a nickname awarded in derision but now worn like a badge—quickly gained a reputation for taking on risky and dangerous cases that set them against some truly over powering foes. Eventually, the pair transitioned to more of a bails bond focus, but both retain their highly honed undeniable talents.

Dakota NorthDespite an “only the pretty survive” reputation, the fashion industry actually requires remarkable strategical thinking to prosper over the long haul. In the Marvel U, the best example of this comes from Dakota North, the model turned private investigator who made the switch without missing a beat.

The daughter of an intelligence officer, North grew up around the ideas that helped mold her into a highly successful PI. Applying her honed business acumen to it proved just the next step and, rapidly, she grew her agency to an international one with offices in Tokyo, Paris, and Rome. After a brief time staying in New York in Nelson & Murdock’s personal employ, it appears she is back out on her own, traversing the globe, and maintaining her business.

Investigate HAWKEYE #2 by Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero on January 4!

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Who Can Solve The Mystery Behind Original Sin?

Published Apr 8, 2014
By Brett White

Marvel Universe Private Eyes

Which of these Marvel Universe super sleuths can uncover the truth behind the Watcher's murder?

There’s a metaphorical Uatu-shaped chalk outline on the streets of Marvel’s Manhattan now that the Watcher has met a mysterious and violent end. That crime acts as the jumping off point for ORIGINAL SIN, a Marvel Comics event that will shed light on previously dark corners of continuity, thus forever altering the course of the heroes involved. Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato will launch the investigation into the Watcher’s murder in May’s ORIGINAL SIN #1. With such a big crime to solve, they might need a little help from some of the Marvel U’s sharpest private investigators.

Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #20

Readers might have forgotten that ol’ Mac Gargan – better known as the Scorpion or one of the more recent hosts of the Venom symbiote – started out as a private eye way back in his first appearance. J. Jonah Jameson hired Gargan to spy on Peter Parker in order to find out how the awkward teen consistently captured dynamite photos of Spider-Man. The gig’s intensity escalated quickly, and Jameson had Gargan outfitted with a scorpion-like battle suit. From that point on, Mac forever turned his back on his P.I. career in favor of villainy. Good luck getting this guy to solve the Watcher’s murder. His detecting game’s a little rusty.

Daughters of the Dragon (2006) #1

Best friends Misty Knight and Colleen Wing, the Daughters of the Dragon, worked so well together that they started their own private investigations business: Nightwing Restorations, Ltd. Together, the duo kept the streets as clean as they could, oftentimes teaming up with fellow super-powered duo Luke Cage and Iron Fist. With Misty’s history as a police officer and Colleen’s expert sword swinging know how, these two proved to be some of the most formidable crime fighters in Manhattan. Unfortunately, the Watcher’s home base on the moon falls a little ways outside of their jurisdiction.

Ex-super hero Jessica Jones enjoyed a second career as a private investigator operating in Manhattan’s shadows. From her non-descript office, Jones took got herself mixed up in a number of high profile cases involving Captain America, Spider-Man, and her allies in the Avengers. Since leaving her private eye career behind, Jessica’s become a proud wife, mother, and super hero. She currently has her hands busy with both her daughter and husband Luke Cage’s new Mighty Avengers endeavor.

Madrox (2004) #5

Operating out of Manhattan’s Mutant Town neighborhood, Jamie Madrox and his team at X-Factor Investigations offered help to those in need – mutant or human. With powerhouses like M and Strong Guy and ferocious fighters like Longshot and Shatterstar on the payroll, Multiple Man’s team could most likely put whichever cosmic force took out the Watcher under citizen’s arrest. Unfortunately, Madrox’s team recently went their separate ways, leaving an all-new, corporate-sponsored X-Factor in their wake.

Daredevil (1998) #108

Dakota North might just be the most successful private eye around. She has offices all over the globe and works for high-paying clients like fashion designers, models, and best-selling authors. She even mixes it up with super heroes on the regular; Daredevil hired her to be both an investigator and bodyguard for his best friend Foggy Nelson. If the super heroes want Uatu’s killer caught, they should follow their compasses to North.

Who will solve the mystery behind the Watcher’s murder? Find out this May in ORIGINAL SIN #1!

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See What's Freshly Digitized for 3/3/14

Published Mar 3, 2014

See What's Freshly Digitized for 3/3/14

Check out the newest digital comics available from Marvel Unlimited!

Already plowed through the thousands of comics available in Marvel Unlimited? Fret not, Marvelites! We add new books into the collection every week to keep you up to your neck in digitized comics! Now, you can expect an array of new issues every Monday, along with a sneak peek of what’s to come the following week. Stay abreast of all Unlimited releases by checking out the Marvel Unlimited Calendar!

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See What's Freshly Digitized for 2/17/14

Published Feb 18, 2014

See What's Freshly Digitized for 2/17/14

Check out the newest digital comics available from Marvel Unlimited!

Already plowed through the thousands of comics available in Marvel Unlimited? Fret not, Marvelites! We add new books into the collection every week to keep you up to your neck in digitized comics! Now, you can expect an array of new issues every Monday, along with a sneak peek of what’s to come the following week. Stay abreast of all Unlimited releases by checking out the Marvel Unlimited Calendar!

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Get the Marvel Comics App Update for 2/5/14

Published Feb 5, 2014

Get the Marvel Comics App Update for 2/5/14

Check out the newest digital comics available in the Marvel Comics iPad and Android App!

Want more comics in the Marvel Comics App for iOS and Android? Your search is over! Check out these comics that just hit the Marvel Comics App and keep coming back every week for new additions to the growing library! That’s right, we add new books every week to feed your need for super-heroic entertainment! Don’t have the Marvel Comics App? What are you waiting for?! Download it for iOS and Android! Here’s your official list of comic books hitting the Marvel Comics app today!

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First Look: X-Men March Solicitations

Published Dec 13, 2011

First Look: X-Men March Solicitations

Return to the Age of Apocalypse, plus the latest for both teams of X-Men as well as X-Force, X-Factor and more

AGE OF APOCALYPSE #1WRITER: Dave Lapham ARTIST: Roberto De La Torre Cover By Humberto Ramos Variant Cover By Bryan Hitch • Spinning Directly Out Of Uncanny X-Force • The Amazing X-Men Have Lost And The Evil Weapon X Is More Powerful Than Ever • Jean Grey And Sabretooth Are At Their Lowest • Who Are The X-Terminated? 32 Pgs./Parental Advisory …$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN #48WRITER: Marjorie Liu ARTIST: Mike Perkins Cover By Dustin Weaver Amazing Spider-Man 50Th Anniversary Variant By Tba • New Creative Team! Best-Selling Author Marjorie Liu And Mike Perkins (The Stand) • The X-Men Return To New York City, But It’s Not A Social Call • Don’t Miss The First Chapter Of What Will Be The Most Controversial Story Of 2012! 32 Pgs./Rated T+ …$3.99

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN: ALPHA & OMEGA #3 (Of 5)WRITER: Brian Wood ARTISTS: Mark Brooks & Roland Boschi Cover By John Tyler Christopher • Quentin Loses Control Over The Construct • Logan’s Health Further Deteriorates, While In The Real World The Berserker Invades The Jean Grey School • Quentin Enters The Construct As A ‘Player’ To Try And Regain Control Over His Creation 32 Pgs./Parental Advisory …$3.99

UNCANNY X-FORCE #23WRITER: Rick Remender ARTIST: Greg Tocchini Cover By Leinil Francis Yu • The Trial Of Fantomex Concludes! • The Multiverse Is In Danger, The Captain Britain Corps Is In Shambles And It Is Up To X-Force To Save The Day • A Terrible Choice Must Be Made For The Protection Of All Reality! 32 Pgs./Parental Advisory …$3.99

X-MEN LEGACY #264WRITER: Christos Gage ARTIST: Rafa Sandoval Cover By Mark Brooks • Featuring Mimic And Weapon Omega! • Weapon Omega Is A Mutant Time Bomb, Ready To Explode…And He’s Just Shown Up On The Doorstep Of The Jean Grey School For Higher Learning. How Will The X-Men Disarm Him Before He Detonates? 32 Pgs./Rated T+ …$2.99

DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #22 & #23WRITER: Rob Williams ARTIST: Alessandro Vitti Covers By Giuseppe Camuncoli Series Finale!• Daken’s Terminal Disease Is In Its Final Stages. What Choices Will He Makes When Finally Faced With Death? Will He Die Here And What Will His Final Actions Be? • The Final Confrontation Between Daken And His Father, Wolverine 32 Pgs. (Each) /Parental Advisory …$2.99 (Each)

X-23 #21WRITER: Marjorie Liu ARTIST: Phil Noto Cover By Kalman Andrasofsky Series Finale!• X-23’S Globehopping Journey Comes To A Close • After All This Time Spent Choosing Who She Will Be, Will She Permanently Choose A Team As Well? 32 Pgs./Parental Advisory …$2.99

NEW MUTANTS #39WRITERS: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning ARTIST: Leo Fernandez Cover By Kris Anka • Trapped On An Island Consumed By A Super Virus, The New Mutants Fall One By One To The Monstrous Infection…And Begin To Change • Can Warlock Keep The Virus In Check, Even If It Means Going Against His Friends? 32 Pgs./Rated T+ …$2.99

GENERATION HOPE #17WRITER: James Asmus ARTIST: Takeshi Miyazawa Cover By Salvador Espin • The Mutiny Continues, As The Lights Rebel Against Their Leader! • Kenji Vs. Hope For The Final Fate Of The Lights! 32 Pgs./Rated T…$2.99

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Tuesday Q&A: Peter David

The prolific writer explores a variety of worlds with The Dark Tower, X-Factor and John Carter

By Chris Arrant

Marvel Comics has become a nexus for stories from all over the fiction world, and veteran writer Peter David sits at the center of it.

In addition to writing mutant series X-FACTOR, David also leads the way in the epic adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower novels as well as writing the comics prequel to the upcoming feature film “John Carter.”

David spoke with Marvel.com about his trio of comic series and inspirations that range from William Butler Yeats and Edgar Rice Burroughs to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE WAY STATION #1 preview art by Laurence Campbell

Marvel.com: This December you’re mounting up for the new Dark Tower limited series, THE GUNSLINGER – THE WAY STATION, adapting the second chapter of the prose Gunslinger book. What can you tell us about this arc?

Peter David: Actually it’s a combination of two chapters from the first Gunslinger novel. Both The Way Station and The Oracle and the Mountain are being covered. Essentially Roland is still pursuing the Man in Black, and believes he’s getting closer—except that may just be illusion.

Marvel.com: How does Roland come across the way station, and what does he find inside worth investigating?Peter David: He comes across it pretty much the same way he comes across anything: in his endless chase after the Man in Black. He runs into the exact sorts of challenges that one would expect the last Gunslinger to encounter, such as a demon hiding in the basement. Because of course when you’re the last Gunslinger and you go into a basement, you’re not just going to encounter a rec room, a wide screen TV, and a cooler of brewskis; there’s gonna be something trying to kill you.

Marvel.com: One thing not trying to kill him is a young boy named Jake Chambers. What can you tell us about this pivotal character?Peter David: Jake is Roland’s first major connection to, and even inkling of, the outsider world. Or what we would refer to simply as “our” world. Under hypnosis, Jake winds up having recollections of his life in New York City and opens Roland’s eyes to the multitude of possibilities outside Mid-World.

Marvel.com: How does this story-arc fit in within the building mythos of The Dark Tower?Peter David: It’s pivotal. Not only does it introduce Jake, but we also see glimpses of other characters in the canon, such as Eddie Dean; characters who lots of fans have been asking about.

THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER – THE WAY STATION #1 preview art by Laurence Campbell

Marvel.com: Artist Laurence Campbell joins you for this series, so put yourself in his shoes: what’s it like stepping into this kind of comic, far different from the standard Marvel super heroes he’s used to?Peter David: I honestly wouldn’t presume to speak on his behalf. I know that in my case, [as somebody] who is writing—or more correctly, dialoguing—something far different from Marvel super heroes, it was both daunting and exhilarating becoming swept up into King’s world. I hope that Laurence likewise shares that measure of excitement.

Marvel.com: Jumping into that world of Marvel super heroes, your most recent issue of X-FACTOR left us with a cliffhanger with the revelation of a new villain named Bloodbath. What’s coming up for the team and the title?

Peter David: Some major, major events. The end of #227 has a one-two punch that, if they give out an annual WTF award, this one would have it hands down. It’s going to propel the team into wholly unexpected directions. And the reason I know they’re unexpected is because I’ve looked around the Internet and see lots of speculation as to what’s coming up, and exactly no one has gotten it right. Or even come close. I see passing mentions of breadcrumbs I’ve dropped, and people wondering whether I’ve forgotten about this thing or wondering aloud when the hell I’m ever going to get back to some other thing. But absolutely no one has speculated correctly about what’s coming up. Bottom line is that the team is going to be left reeling over the events of #227-#229 and the surprising shift of status quo in #230—which was surprising when I wrote it, but less so since it’s also being heavily promoted. But hey, if it gets people buying the book, then fine.

X-FACTOR #227 preview art by Leonard Kirk

Marvel.com: Coming up, I’ve heard rumblings that there’s a death in the team in future issues. I don’t want to spoil X-FACTOR #227, but can you speak at all about the team dynamic and how losing one of their own might affect them?Peter David: Shocked, saddened, bewildered, distraught. All this and more, which comes to a head in #230 when the team is literally tearing itself apart through recriminations, finger-pointing, and uncertainty about each other. #230 is pretty much the epitome of the first stanza of the poem “The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Marvel.com:And in January’s X-FACTOR #230, the team joins up with the overarching X-Men story-arc Regenesis. Can you tell us how X-Factor Investigations fits in with that?

X-FACTOR #227 preview art by Leonard Kirk

Peter David: Well, by #230 you’ve got a team that’s at a crossroads. Thanks to all the second guessing and grief, they’re wondering whether they can hold it together, or if they even should. One member is gone, they’re not sure if they can trust several others. How the hell are they supposed to work together and live together? They have their own internal schism, as it were, and it overlaps with the other one going on. And basically one of the individuals caught up in Schism, although I won’t stay who—hint: rhymes with Shmolverine—has his own stuff going on and can totally relate to what they’re going through. To that end, he approaches them with a sort of “We can help each other” deal. Now whether they take it or not, well, you have to keep reading for that. But I absolutely, positively will not tell you who else shows up in #230.

Marvel.com: In addition to that, the cover for X-FACTOR #230 shows both Havok and Polaris—ex-members from your first run on the title in the 90’s—showing up. What can you say about these two new additions to the team?Peter David: Oh. You saw that cover, huh. Dammit. Okay, well, so much for that. What can I say? Well, I can say read the book. I mean, come on, you gotta leave me something to surprise people with.

Marvel.com: Jumping over to your other big project, when we spoke to you back in September about JOHN CARTER WORLD OF MARS, you related to us how you’ve been a fan of this work going back to your childhood. What’s it like stepping in to write this story?Peter David: It’s fantastic. Not only is it a wonderful opportunity to play in the Edgar Rice Burroughs universe, but I’m also very aware that this series might well be—probably will be—an introduction to Barsoom for some readers. I take that responsibility very seriously. You never have a second chance to make a good first impression, and I want people to be encouraged to go and read the original novels—not to mention, obviously, see the movie—and discover Burroughs’ world of Mars in the same way that I was able to many years ago.

JOHN CARTER: WORLD OF MARS #2 cover by Mico Suayan

Marvel.com: This limited series tells of Barsoom before John Carter set foot on the planet, and you’ve really fleshed out the world, especially Dejah Thoris. How’d you hone in on the best story to tell that could fit within Burroughs’ dynamic story and work seamlessly with the upcoming movie?Peter David: Actually it was a very challenging needle to thread. I was to create a prequel, which meant that it had to be before Carter was on Barsoom. But Carter had to be in it because it was going to be called “John Carter,” so if he wasn’t there it was going to be confusing. But I couldn’t have sequences on Earth, which meant Carter had to be on Barsoom, except, again: prequel. So I thought about all the inherently conflicting aspects and ultimately decided to have a story in which—at the very beginning—Carter is on Barsoom, and he’s talking at two different points in time to Tars Tarkas and Dejah Thoris, and both of them are telling him a story about key events on Barsoom before he arrived. Carter than relates first person to the reader the stories that Dejah and Tars told him; which, when you get down to it, is very much in the spirit of the books. In those, a narrator—presumably Burroughs himself—shares with the reader the story of John Carter as told by Carter. So we’re just continuing in that tradition.